Cord lock fitting



Oct. 10, 1950 H. NELsoN CORD LOCK FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. :Varry /e/spn ''OP/VEKS' Illllllll Original Filed Felb. 27, 1947 *Oct 10, 1950 H. NELSON 2,524,988

l coRD Loox FITTING original Filed Feb. 27. 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 9 v g. m

INVENToR, BY.. j/@fry /Ve/soz; W M fm Patented oct. 1o, 195o lLorentzen Hardware Mfg Corp., New York,

N Y., a corporation of New York Original application February 27, 1947, Serial No.

731,392` Divided and this application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,727

Thisuinvention relates to cord locks, andthe` present application isa division of my application Serial Number 731,392,=.1iled February 27, 1947. The invention iis particularly applicableto y shades of the type;loftenfreferredto as porch shades, and it :will be .disclosed 'and Y vdiscussed in 'that connection;v However, certainaspects ofv the `invention are @applicableY to other types of blinds, within which term Iincludeporch shades, roll screens and Venetian blinds.V i i y The-usual porch shadeis Vessentially a mat of one sort or anotherhungfin' a verticallplane' and arranged to belrolled up by'liftcords or ropes. The mat may take various' forms, a frequent` form beingawoven mat having Vspaced verticallydisposed strings or cords as Warp and relatively narrow horizontally-disposed strips of wood or Ibamboo as Woof. v

In an operative sense there are ordinarily two lift cords, and these maycon'sist of two branches ofasinglerpiece of cord. The terminal end of one lift cord is anchored at the top of the blind near' a first end thereof. From there this cord extends down the rear face ofy the blind, under the bottom of the blind, `up the front face ofthe blind, over a pulleyor other suitable cord guide, to

axpoint'n'ear thefsecond enid of the blind, over 4 claims. (C1. 24-132) of the blind, over a `pulley or other suitable'lco'rd guide, and nthencethro-ughthecord lock. Ifthe* two liftcords consistl of twobranches of asing'le piece of cord, they the cord lock. i Y

Ther prsent'. invention, in its preferredl iform hereinafter disclosed,v is concerned -with a cord 'l lock iitting which acts as a cordgui'de and in-` also includes cludes a cord pulley and. 'which means for hanging the shade.l

An object .of the invention is to provide `for porch shades or similarV blinds, a convenient and eiectiveiitting which includes a shade hanger,

Vfor blinds a cord lock which is substantially protected against false or unintended operation.

, A still further object of the invention is'toprovide for'blinds an improved cord lock which prevents two branches of cordpassing throughV the lock from becoming twisted within the casing of the lock.

Additional objects of the invention areto accomplish the foregoing results with a rfitting;

unite4 after paS'Sjing thfoughff adapted for manufacture as a unitary sheet metal stamping or assembly thereof.

Further objects and objects relating to def tails and economies of construction will more deiinitely appear from the detailed description to follow. Y My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as Well as in the description, parts are at times identified by' specific names for clarity and convenience, but such .nomenclature is. to be understoodas having the broadest meaning consistent with the context: "and with the concept of my invention asjdis'- tinguished from the pertinent prior art. .The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a mounted porchl shade having a tting in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention installed thereon, the central portion of the shade being Ibroken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the combined hanger and cord lock tting, a portion of the shade sup-gv port being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a'vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, aporton of the shade support being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the combined hanger and cord lock shown in Fig. 2, prior to installation on the shade. 1

`Fig: 15is V'a rig-ht-sideelevation of the fitting shown'in Figfl.l

Fig. 6' is a left-side elevation'lof the shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

fitting Fig. '7 isa bottoni plan view of the fitting shown` p in Figs. 4', 5 and 6.

Fig. -8 is a horizontal section of the tting, taken generally on line 8-8 of Fig. 8. v Fig. v9 is a perspective View, on a large scale, of a modified spring washer which may be positioned under the head of the pulley shaft of the cord lock iitting. j Fig. l0 is a detail perspective view, also on a large scale, showing an alternative means for engaging the head of the pulley shaft.

The. shade, generally designated as i5 and shown in Fig l, is comprised of a multiplicity oi edgewise-positioned horizontal strips or slats I6 which are collectively secured into a flexible sheet by interwoven vertical cords Il extending'at in`r tervals from top to bottom of the Shade. The upper portion of the shade I5 terminates in a head or top bar I9 which has, vmounted alongside it, the topmost slat l of the shade, a second slat 23 being frequently interposed between the top slat I6 of the shade and the head bar I9, as shownv in Figs. 2 and. 3. The head bar I9 and the slats.

I6 are secured. together at intervals along their length by fasteners, such as rivets I8.

The shade I is suspended from a support 20, such as the marginal roof beam of a porch, and' is often positioned between porch pillars 2|, 2i as shown in Fig. 1. The shade I5 may be conveniently suspended from the support by the use of iittings to be described which detachably engage headed fasteners, such as the screws 22, 22 secured in the support.

In the form of multiple Slat shade shown in Fig. l, the slats are not tiltable, and the shade is raised to open position by rolling it upwardly from the bottom. Opening of the shade l5 is accomplished by lift cords 24, 24 which cooperate with. the shade inthe well-known manner;

The two fittings may be conveniently designated as a cord guide fitting 26 and a cord lock fitting 2', the cord lock fitting also serving the function of a, cord. guide for changing the direction of pull of the lift cords 24, 24. The cord guide fitting 26 and the cord lock: fitting 2l' also serve as hangers for mounting the shade I5, as will be described.

'Referring to Fig. 3, the cord" guide fitting 2S is formed from a fiat sheet of metal, preferably plated or treated to resist corrosion by the usev of stamping dies or otherwise. The cord guide tting 25. includesv a at plate 23 having its lower portion horizontally.` folded upon itself in spaced relation to form a housing 3Q. A single-groove pulley3l is mounted for rotation within the housw ing 3! on a rivet passing through the housing perpendicular to the plate 29. One side of the housing 30 is cut away to provide a hole 34 in order to permit lateral passageof the lift cord 24 from the pulley 3 I', as is shown in Fig. l. The' edge portions of the metal at either vertical' side of the hole 34' and. along the opposite lower edges ofthe housing 36 are turned slightly outwardy to prevent fraying of the lift cord 24I as it runspast these edges.

The mid-portion of the platev 25', slightly above the housing 3S, is provided with twol small for-- wardly-extending: flanges 35, 3.6 lying inthe same horizontal plane and preferably spaced as far apart. asthe width of plate 23 permits. The mid-4 portion of the plate 29 is also provided with a' round hole 3l (Fig. 1), the hole 37 and the flanges 36, 35 being provided for mounting the fitting 26 on. the shade I5 .in a, manner to be described.

The upper end of the plate 29 is provided with a so-called keyhole, composed of a round hole portion 39 and an upwardly-projecting slot portion 45, the hole portions 39 and 46' being identical with hole portions 39' and 6' shown in Fig. 4. The round portion 39 is of suicient size to permit it to be passed over the head of the screw 22 (Fig. 1) secured to the support 20, the slotll being of suitable width to slide down on the shank of the screw. This arrangement permits quickdetachable mounting of the fitting 26' on the screw 22, as will be apparent.

A rearwardly-projecting tab 4I is also provided on the upper portion of the plate 29 and has a hole 42 therein, the hole preferably being given a shape corresponding with theV outline of the tab. The tab 4I serves as an anchor for one end of the lift cord 24, and additionally it assists in retaining the tting 26 in engagement with the shade I5, as will be subsequently explained. Prior to installation the portion of the plate 29 which is above the, ange 36, 36 is planar, the tab- 4I being bent rearwardly to the position shown after the fitting 26' has been put in place on the blind..

ends of the extensions 5I, 5I'.

The cord lock fitting 21 is formed similarly to the cord guide fitting 26 from a flat plate 44. The midportion and the upper end of the plate 44? are similar to the corresponding portions of the plate 29 of the cord guide fitting 26. These similar parts are indicated by similar reference characters marked prime and denoting similar parts having similar functions, the only difference between these portions of the two plates being that the plate 44 is somewhat greater in width than thel plate 29 in order to space the anges 36', 36' a greater distance apart so as to provide for a firmer attachment to the shade I5, as will be subsequently explained.

The lower portion of the plate 44 is folded horizontally upon itself in` spaced relation to form a housing'llV having twoparallel vertical walls. A- double-groove pulley 46 is rotatably mountedA on a rivet 41 passing p'erpendicularly through the parallel verticalwalls of thehousing 45.

From an examination ofFigs. 5 andv 8, it will be observed that; the pulleyV 46'is of considerably/,less width than the distancel between the parallel Walls of the housing 45, and that these parallel walls are stepped in towards the upper portion of the pulley; The stepped-in portions of `the housing walls maintain the pulley centered within the housing, and alsomaintain the lift cords 24', 24- in position on the pulley. Plate 44, above the housing and immediatelyv below the flanges 36', 36', is givenv an` inclinationl soY as to maintain the rear-side of' the housing in the plane of'thatportion of the plate 44 which is above the flanges 36', 36', as is shown in'Fig. 5.

A locking dog 50 is positionedl within the housing 45- and has extensions 5I', 5I projecting' on either side of and spacedv from the pulley 45. The locking dog is oscillatably mounted on the rivet 4l, the rivet being passed through the free- Downwardly-projecting teeth 52 are formed along the forward edge of the locking dog 5)A to insure holding-engagement of the locking dog' with the'lift cords 2'4, 24 -when the dog is in` operated position. The' locking dog 50.extends'forxsubstantially theentire width between the parallelsidesof the housing 45, andl thi's'maintains the lockingdog in a centered position inthe housing. Sincel the pulley l 46 is also'maintained ina centered position inthe housing 4'5, engagement of extensions 5I', 5I of the ylocking dog withthe sides of they pulley is prevented. The function ofl this feature of m'y invention will be explained hereinafter.

The clockwise oscillating'movement of theilocking dog 50; as viewed' in Fig. 4', is limitedr by a detent in the form of a finger 54 which* is struck out from the metal of the housing and projects into the path of movement of the dog, as is best seen in Figs. 5 and '71 This finger arrests the lockingl dog inthe position shown in Fig. 4'. The stepped-in upper portion of the housing 45 serves to limit the counterclockwise oscillation of the locking dog 50, although, in operation, the engagement of the locking dog with the lift cords' 24, 24limits its motion in this direction before it reaches the stepped-in portion of the housing.

The wall 55 of the housing 45 provides a wall against whichthe lift cords 24, 24 are locked by the dog 55'. ThisV wall is preferably given a slightly outwardly bowed contour to crowd the two; cords 2'4, 24 together and to aid in retaining them inv alignment with. the pulley 46. The action of the locking dog 50 in cooperation with the locking surf-ace 55 is such that when the pendant portions of the liftcords. 24,24 areswung.

the locking dogforcing `the lift cordsagainst the lockingsurface 55,.in,cluding inclined portionsthereof, andffrictionally engagingthe cords so as to maintain them in position againstjthe weight of the shade I5, which tends to draw` the cords upwardly through the Vcord lock. The cordlock herein described is similar in somerespects 4 to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 538,601, which has issued as lPatent 2,507,610.

Some difficulty is'often `encountered in blinds having two` lift cords,. running side by side through a cord lock, in that the pendant ends of the lift cordstend to `become twisted about each other.l This diiculty may arise irrespective of whether braidedor twistedfcords are used. `If lift cords in such twisted condition are permitted to passinto the cord lock housing 45, they are apt tobecome jammed between the pulley 416 and the lockingsurface 55 of the housing, or to actuate the locking dog` 0 intolocking position although there has been no lateral 'movement of the ends of the lift cords such asis normally required to cause the locking dog to engage the cords, 4To prevent-,this .a separator 56 is provided adjacent to the lower end of the housing 4,5 to causethe lift'cords 24, 24 to untwist as theyenter the cord lockhousing The separator 56 projects `horizontally in a direction parallel with the groovesof the pulley 46, as is wellknownin the art.

.The separator 56 shown herein is stamped from the plate 44, this stamping being accomplished simultaneously withthe forming of the housing 45. This separator is, in general, AL shaped, the Vbase ofthe L being a flat flange bent from the bottom edge of one of the` parallel walls of the housing and projecting halfway across `the open bottomof the housing A45.

The stern of the`L-sh`aped separator 56 comprises the operating portion thereof.. This operating portion is formed from afprojecting at strip of metal integral with thebasev of the I which.Y is` given a generally upright' U-shaped cross section. VThe operating portion of the separator 55lies adjacent` to the bottom of the housing 4 5, projecting fora short. distance beyondthe locking surface '55 thereohas shown in Figs. 4 and 7. Inasmuch as substantially all of the frictioal-e'ngagement'ofthellift cords 24, 24 ,.when in twisted condition, Occurs on the lower face of the separator 56, the shape described does not result in any fraying `of the cords and provides a separator that may be integrally and simultaneously formed by suitable dies during the stamping of the cord lock tting 21 as a whole.

The cord lock also has an instruck bead or corrugation 51 formed adjacent the lower edge of the housing 45, this bead extending transversely across the lower end of the locking surface` 55fand thence for a substantial distance into each of the parallel walls of theY housing.

This bead provides a smooth bearing surface for the cords as they run through the cord lock, preventing fraying of the cords on the lower edge of the housing 45. Also, the portions of the ybead 51 which are in the parallel side walls of the housing, keep the cords so centered with respect to the locking dog as to obviate any tendency of a cord to jam between a corner of thev locking ,dogan'd a side wall of the housing. Bead 51 may-.be a continuous bead, but to facilitate stamping` thereof it may be interrupted Where it goes around thecorners between vsurface andthe side walls of the housing 45 as is best seen in Fig. 4.

Some diiiculty has been encountered inthe operation of cord locks having the locking dog and the pulley mounted for rotation on the same axis, `in thatthe rotation vof the pulley during the lowering of the blind sometimes causes socalled false operation of the cord locki. e., carries the locking dog into engagement with the lift cords when the cords have not been swung sidewise to eifect operation of the lock. This type of false operation is prevented in the cord lock shown herein, since the sides of pulley 46 are. prevented from coming in contactwith extensions 5I, "5I of locking dog 5I). Therefore, as the pulley rotates it cannot, through frictional contact with dog extensions 5I, 5I, pick upthe dog and swing it into engagementgwith the cords. x i V Cord locks having the locking dog and the pulley mounted on Athe same axis are also occasionally subject to .another type of Yfalse operation. If the rivet which actsas an axle becomes loose in the cord lock :housingy but through roughness orv otherwise becomes a little tight withrespect tothe pulley and locking dog, thenthe rotating pulley may carry the rivet around with it, and the rivet may then-carry the locking dogf around with'it, thereby causing false operation of the cord lock. To'prevent this, a slightlyconed spring washer is placed under the head of rivet'41,.the washer becoming stressed as the rivet is set. The washer then resiliently engages the housing 45 and thefrivet head, thereby effectively preventing fortuitous rotation of the rivet should it become rotationally loose in the housing. The same result can be accomplished by stamping the,` housing with thev side walls initially divergent to a slight extent andusing a rivet of a length which will draw the walls into parallel relationship.

Figs.I 9 and 10 show alternative means for preventing rotation of the rivet 41 should it become loose in the housing 45. Fig. 9 shows a washer of thin spring'sheet metal,` the washer, when unstressed, Vconforming to the 'surface of a cylin der. This washer when substituted for the conical spring washer GU, acts in similar fashion to washer 6). In Fig. 10 an angular projection 6I is shown struck up from a parallel wall of the housing. 45 adjacent the hole provided for the rivetv 41.m When the rivet'41 is inserted in the housing 45, a corner of projection 6I engages and cuts into a portion of the periphery of the rivet head so as to prevent rotation of the rivet relative to the housing. Either of the alternative means herein described and shown in Figs. 9 and 10may be used instead of the conical washer 60 shown in Fig. 8.

. The attachment of the cord guide fitting 2B and the cord lock fitting 21 to the shade I5 is quickly and easily accomplished. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the head bar I9 is mounted alongside the topmost slat IB of the shade, and a second slat 23 is interposed between the topmost slat and the head bar. As above described, these slats, which are relatively flexible, are secured to the head bar I9 at intervals. The upper portion of the plate 29 of the cord guide fittingY 26 may be inserted between the head'bar I9-and the slat 23, between adjacent rivets I8, the slat 2'3 being deflected slightly if necessary to permit passage of the'plate. This plate isinserted adjacent the left end of the head bar-.1I 9, 'as shown in Fig. 1, and is pushed upwardly until the flanges 36, 36 engage the lower edge of the head bar; v f

After lthe cord guide fitting 26 has been inserted as above described, Vthe laterally-projecting tab 4I will be positioned immediately above the top edge of the head bar I9. This tab is then bent rearwardly tothe position shown in Fig.-3, in which position it projects to the rear of the topmost slat I6 of the shade. The bent tab 4I serves to prevent withdrawal of the cord guide tting 26, and, in conjunction with flanges 36, 36, it prevents oscillation of the cord guide in a plane pai'- allel to the plane of the shade.

Longitudinal movement of the cord guide fitting 26 along the head bar I9 is prevented by the frictional engagement of the head bar and the slat 23 with the fitting, and also by the rivets I8 rwhich serve to limit such longitudinal movement. In addition, a driven fastening 59, such as a staple,'is preferably driven into the head bar I9 with one leg thereof passing through the hole 31 of the cord guide 26 so as to more definitely position' the cord guideon the head bar. The staple 59 may be omitted if desired. The cord lock fitting 2l' is positioned on the head bar I8 adjacent the right-hand end of the shaft I in a similar manner.

The lift cords 24, 24 are installed by passing one end of a piece ofv cord upwardly `through the cord lock housing 45 halfway around the pulley 46, downwardly along the front of the shade, as viewed in Fig. 1, around the lbottom of the shade, andup the back of the shade, that end of the cord being then secured to the tab 4 I of the cord lock tting`2'l. The other end of the piece of cord is passed upwardly through the cord lock housing on 'the opposite side of the separator 56, one-fourth way around the pulley 46, horizontally across the top ofthe shade I5, through the cord guide fitting 26 (making a quarter turn around pulley 3 I), downwardly on the front of the shade I5, under the shade, and upwardly along the back side of the shade, that end of the cord being then secured to the tab 4I of the cord guide fitting 26. This reeving of the lift cords 24, 24 leaves a pendant loop of cord at the right end of the shade I5 which may be grasped by 'the operator for opening or closing the shade.

If desired, the cord 'guide fitting 26 and the cord lock fitting 21 may be made of hands Opposite to those shown, so as to place the pendant loop of the lift cords 24, 24 at the left hand rather than the right end of the shade.

Ik claim:

l. A cord lock for blinds,.said cord lock comprising: a housing having a cord-locking surface and parallel side walls centrally converging at the top of the housing, a "pulley over which a cord may be passed, a shaft passing through the side walls for rotatably mounting the pulley, and a cord-engaging dog for locking a cord against said surface, said dog being oscillatably mounted On said shaft by portions thereof extending alongside of and spaced from said pulley and Vbeing maintained centered within the housing by the side Walls thereof, said converging side 8 walls abutting the sides of said pulley to maintain it centered with respect to said portions of sai'd dos.

2. A cord lock for blinds, said cord lock comprising: a housing having a cord locking surface and parallelside walls, a pulley over which a cord may be passed, a shaft passing through the side walls and rotatably mounting the pulley, portions of the side walls above said shaft being stepped inwardly into abutting relationship with the sides of the pulley, and a cord-engaging dog for locking the cord against said surface, saidv dog being oscillatably mounted on Said shaft by portions thereof extending beside and spaced from said pulley and being held centered within the housing by the side walls thereof, and said pulley being held centered -within the housing by the stepped-in portions of said side walls.

3. Ina cord lock for blinds having a sheet metal housing provided with two parallel side walls and an end wall, a movable locking dog mounted within the housing, a pulley over which two cords may be reeved in parallel relation, the pulley being mounted between said side walls for rotation in a plane parallel thereto, and a cord separator at the bottom of the housing; the improvement which comprises: the cord separator being formed integrally with the'housing and being generally L-shaped and projecting across the bottom of the housing from one of the side walls to a point substantially midway between the side walls and then substantially to the bottom edge of the end wall in a direction ,parallel to the side walls.

4. A cord lock for blinds, said cord lock comprising: a housing having a cord-locking surface and generallyparallel side walls, a pulleyover which a cord may be passed, a shaft passing through the side walls and rotatably mounting the pulley, and a cord-engaging dog for locking a cord against said surface, said dog being oscillatably mounted on said shaft by side portions thereof extending alongside of and spaced from said pulley and being maintained centered Within the housing by parallel portions of the side walls,

said side walls beyond said parallel portions extending inwardly at a point adjacent the periphery of said pulley to ,engage the 'sides of said pulley and maintain it centered with respect to the cord-engaging dog.

HARRY NELSCN.

l REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

